TheAwayTeam :: Star Kinship (Moamoo)

The charm of this album is hard to resist, like a drive-in B-grade movie that’s far too good to be called a turkey. Brian Eno once said computers could use a little more Africa in them and this Roman artist’s sonic delight strikes a stylish balance.

TheAwayTeam 'Star Kinship'

Star Kinship - TheAwayTeam Italian sound and video artist (as AAVV) Paul Kersex dedicates his album to the hitherto “uncontacted tribes of African Atlantis.” Having made empathic connection on his own, possibly by reading the constellations according to some long-forgotten esoteric tradition, TheAwayTeam expresses its kinship via a similarly esoteric set of pieces that is part space-age exotica and part My Life in the Bush of Ghosts – the record from 1981 and the 1954 book by Amos Tutuola as well, in its evocation of imaginary Africa.

There are no voices snatched from airwaves and obscure vinyl like on Eno & Byrne’s milestone, but plenty of avian and mammal chatter, including an electronic elephant trumpeting through “Caravan.” Each eccentric track orbits round restrained but spirited hand percussion – which adds an extra layer of warmth – and one locomotive, strangely enough on a track called “Zambesi Falls.” “Twilight: Drums in the Forest,” on the other hand, is absolutely true to its name, dancing in the dying light as the cool evening air dries the day’s sweat on the brow.

The charm of this album is hard to resist, like a drive-in B-grade movie that’s far too good to be called a turkey. Brian Eno once said computers could use a little more Africa in them and this Roman artist’s sonic delight strikes a stylish balance.

Star Kinship is available on Moamoo. [Release page]

[itunes id=”459053202″]

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